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Infant-feeding patterns and cardiovascular risk factors in young adulthood: data from five cohorts in low- and
Caroline Hd Fall1, Judith B Borja, Clive Osmond
1MRC Epidemiology Resource Centre, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, UK.
Insights
Longer breastfeeding did not reduce adult cardiovascular risk in low-income countries. However, delaying complementary foods may slightly lower adult adiposity, suggesting a small benefit for infant feeding practices.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Pediatrics
- Cardiovascular Epidemiology
Background:
- Infant feeding patterns significantly impact long-term health outcomes.
- This study investigated the relationship between infant feeding and adult cardiovascular risk factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test the hypothesis that extended breastfeeding duration and delayed introduction of complementary foods reduce adult cardiovascular risk.
- To examine associations between infant feeding practices and adult blood pressure, glucose levels, and adiposity.
Main Methods:
- Pooled data from 10,912 subjects (ages 15-41) across five prospective birth-cohort studies in low/middle-income countries.
- Examined infant feeding (breastfeeding duration, age of complementary food introduction) and adult cardiovascular risk markers.
- Adjusted for maternal socio-economic status, education, smoking, race, urban/rural residence, and infant birth weight.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in outcomes were found between breastfed and non-breastfed adults.
- Breastfeeding duration showed no association with adult diabetes prevalence or adiposity.
- Later introduction of complementary foods was linked to reduced adult adiposity (e.g., lower BMI and waist circumference).
Conclusions:
- Extended breastfeeding duration does not appear to protect against adult hypertension, diabetes, or adiposity in these populations.
- Delaying complementary foods until 6 months may offer a small reduction in adult overweight/adiposity risk.
- Further research is needed to explore the potential benefits of 'exclusive' breastfeeding.
Background:
Infant-feeding patterns may influence lifelong health. This study tested the hypothesis that longer duration of breastfeeding and later introduction of complementary foods in infancy are associated with reduced adult cardiovascular risk.
Methods:
Data were pooled from 10 912 subjects in the age range of 15-41 years from five prospective birth-cohort studies in low-/middle-income countries (Brazil, Guatemala, India, Philippines and South Africa). Associations were examined between infant feeding (duration of breastfeeding and age at introduction of complementary foods) and adult blood pressure (BP), plasma glucose concentration and adiposity (skinfolds, waist circumference, percentage body fat and overweight/obesity). Analyses were adjusted for maternal socio-economic status, education, age, smoking, race and urban/rural residence and infant birth weight.
Results:
There were no differences in outcomes between adults who were ever breastfed compared with those who were never breastfed. Duration of breastfeeding was not associated with adult diabetes prevalence or adiposity. There were U-shaped associations between duration of breastfeeding and systolic BP and hypertension; however, these were weak and inconsistent among the cohorts. Later introduction of complementary foods was associated with lower adult adiposity. Body mass index changed by -0.19 kg/m(2) [95% confidence interval (CI) -0.37 to -0.01] and waist circumference by -0.45 cm (95% CI -0.88 to -0.02) per 3-month increase in age at introduction of complementary foods.
Conclusions:
There was no evidence that longer duration of breastfeeding is protective against adult hypertension, diabetes or overweight/adiposity in these low-/middle-income populations. Further research is required to determine whether 'exclusive' breastfeeding may be protective. Delaying complementary foods until 6 months, as recommended by the World Health Organization, may reduce the risk of adult overweight/adiposity, but the effect is likely to be small.
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